ELEPHANTS in Carmarthenshire are among thousands of dangerous wild animals being kept legally in private locations across Britain.
The Asian elephants, housed at Skanda Vale under a Dangerous Wild Animals Act (DWAA) licence, form part of a wider issue highlighted by wildlife charity Born Free.
The charity has raised serious concerns about what it described as outdated laws allowing exotic and potentially dangerous species to be kept outside of zoos and conservation centres.
Dame Joanna Lumley, founder patron of Born Free, said: "Wild animals should never ever be kept as pets, no matter how much we feel we could give them a wonderful home.
"Their lives should be in the wild.
"It is shocking that so many are still being legally kept in private hands, propping up a cruel and ghastly trade."
Born Free is calling for a complete overhaul of the 50-year-old legislation, warning that the current law does not reflect modern understanding of animal welfare, public safety, or conservation.
The charity’s research reveals that more than 2,200 "dangerous" animals - ranging from venomous snakes and large cats to primates - are legally kept under the DWAA.
Chris Lewis, captivity research and policy manager at Born Free, said: "The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 was intended to make the keeping of wild animals categorised as 'dangerous' a wholly exceptional circumstance.
"Yet 50 years on we find ourselves in a situation where nearly ten times more venomous snakes are kept in British homes than British zoos, servals continue to be unnecessarily and cruelly crossbred with domestic cats to produce 'fashionable' hybrids, and primates continue to be confined despite the Government acknowledging they are unsuited to being kept as pets.
"These animals are still wild, still dangerous, yet still legal to keep.
"The Government must urgently review and reform the laws governing the trade in, and keeping of, wild animals as pets."
In addition to the Skanda Vale elephant, other privately-held animals include tigers, crocodiles, and more than 500 venomous snakes.
The number of licensed dangerous animals has risen since Born Free’s 2023 research, with 293 primates, 512 venomous snakes, and 79 crocodiles, alligators and caimans now recorded.
Born Free has warned that animals kept under the Act are not guaranteed appropriate living conditions, and that the current rules do not do enough to protect either people or wildlife.
The charity wants ministers to reform the laws in England and Wales, introducing evidence-based measures to prevent harm, close loopholes, strengthen enforcement and meet UK commitments to animal welfare, biosecurity, conservation and public health.
A spokesperson for the Environment Department (Defra) said: "Anyone wishing to keep an animal covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act must be carefully vetted and apply for a licence which sets out strict conditions under which the animals must be kept."
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